MLB Authentication Error?

[DonFan23]

Re: MLB Authentication?

My suggestion would be to look up the address of the Deloitte & Touche office nearest to the ballpark where the authentication was done, and send a letter to the Managing Partner. It may or may not work, but they should still have the records in their files, and maybe you can make some headway with them.

[gingi79]

Does MLB Auctions fix their mistakes?

I already emailed them (the email follows below.) I won a game worn white Jeff Francoeur Atlanta Braves jersey from the 2007 season. I was very excited to get it at the price I won it for as I can now either save it or resell it for a nice profit if things get tight. Box comes via UPS and I'm stoked to open the box. I pull it out, look it over and see marks that appear to have been made by a pen or marker. I have never seen bat marks which look exactly like a ball point pen or thin sharpie marks. I figure it required further research until I plugged the MLB Hologram into the database......

They sent me a simple Autographed shirt. It had the 33 patch and a 0063 code on the inner tag but was obviously never used in an MLB game. There is no (07 48 s2) tag under the jock tag (which looks crisp and new). So I am rather positive it is not GU and I emailed my concerns.

My question is, has anyone had a similiar issue with MLB Auctions and how was it resolved? If I don't get a positive resolution, I will be disputing the charge. Will I really have that kind of hassel to look forward to?

Anyway here is the email, an suggestions on how to get the correct shirt would be greatly appreciated.

"Hello,

I won a Game Worn Jeff Francoeur White Braves jersey recently on your site. It was listed on MLB Auctions as Game worn and I bid $500 on it, a very high sum as it was being sold as game used. You cannot imagine my disdain therefore when it arrived and was:

(a) Missing the {07 48 S2} tag that almost every game used Braves jersey has sewn on under the Majestic jock tag post 2006
(b) Has pen marks not consistent with normal game use.

Normally I wouldn't complain however, when I looked up my MLB Authentication hologram and saw this:

"Hologram number BB570634 was located in the MLB Authentication Database under AUTOGRAPHED JERSEY.
Session Product Description: TEAM ISSUED #7

Session Name: JEFF FRANCOEUR SIGNING
Session Date: Feburary 06, 2008
Autographer: JEFF FRANCOEUR
Authenticator: AUTHENTICATORS, INC."

Nowhere does my hologram description list this shirt as worn in a game.

This shirt is listed as a jersey prepared for the Braves, NOT USED in a game and simply authenticates the autograph. It's value is nowhere near that of a shirt listed in your database as Game Used and I paid $500 for a GAME WORN jersey. I am immeasurably dissatisfied with this jersey especially since your authentication system lists as simply an autographed jersey.

So I need to know how we are going to rectify this situation. It doesn't match my other MLB registered Francoeur jersey and it doesn't appear that there been a mistake in the database that you can rectify. For instance this wasn't simply a clerical error where it as incorrectly listed as an autographed jersey rather than game worn with dates that it had been worn.

In short, when can I expect to get the game worn Jeff Francouer jersey I paid for? How do I return this shirt to you at your expense? Please rectify this situation immediately. I aprreciate your quick and thorough assistance.

Sincerely,

GinGi79"

[Mauer7]

Re: Does MLB Auctions fix their mistakes?

I know all newer Twins Game Worn Jersey's are MLB Authenticated as team issued. It doesnt mean yours wasnt worn. I have 2 Twins jersey's that I know were worn and they both say issued.

[AWA85]

Re: Does MLB Auctions fix their mistakes?

I may be wrong, but it almost seems like MLB.com considers issued to be the same as game worn.

[gingi79]

Re: Does MLB Auctions fix their mistakes?

I know all newer Twins Game Worn Jersey's are MLB Authenticated as team issued. It doesnt mean yours wasnt worn. I have 2 Twins jersey's that I know were worn and they both say issued.

See that's not fair to collectors and I don't think it's right that we have to accept it. It is purchased from MLB, why can't it be listed correctly? Why does there have to be mired in "maybe it's game worn, maybe it's just an autographed GI"

If I put this shirt on eBay, it sells for maybe $200. If I put my red one on eBay with a much uglier autograph purchased a year ago from the same site but listed as game worn with a date, it goes for over $1000. No way am I taking a $300 hit immediately and an $800 hit in value on resale just because MLB Auctions is half assed in their wording and research.

If I purchase directly from the team and MLB, someone needs to stand behind it with easy to understand and straight forward descriptions so there is NO DOUBT this shirt was on Frenchie's back in a real game.

[ziggy]

Re: Does MLB Auctions fix their mistakes?

Here is a similar jersey to yours:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Jeff-Francoeur-game-used-autographed-jersey-2007_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ65Q3a12Q7c66Q3a2Q7c39Q3a1Q7c72Q3a1205Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem255563bf67QQitemZ160346390375QQptZLHQ5fDefaultDomainQ5f0QQsalenotsupported

[WadeInBmore]

Re: Does MLB Auctions fix their mistakes?

Don't know if you want to here this or not, but I have had trouble with MLB.com. As an avid frank Thomas collector I skim through the MLB listings from time to time...and believe my excitement when I saw a grey set 2 game used blue jays jersey auth# and all. I quickly ran to my closet and pulled out my set 2 game used grey jersy and compared the auth#'s; they were identical. I tried contacting MLB.com about the issue but didn't recieve a response until after the auction was over to which they told me the auction had ended and/or no info could be found regarding my concern. LOL, oh well...I know I've got my jersey...I just feel bad For the dude who bought the jersey from MLB.com...maybe they sent him/her and autographed retail jersey instead. Hmmmm interesting. Best of luck.

Wade

[cjclong]

MLB bat authentication?

At the Rangers game with the Twins in Arlington Saturday Morneau was batting and broke his bat. The twins bat boy ran out from the Twins dug out with a new bat and gave it to Morneau and then took the broken one over by the Rangers dug out and gave it to someone in the camera well Morneau finished the at bat with a single to right on which he again cracked the bat. The Twins bat boy again picked up the broken bat and took it to the camera well on the Rangers side and handed it to someone. Later in the game a Twiins batter completely shattered his bat and again the Twins bat boy took the two pieces to the camera well. A little while later the Twins bat boy ran over to the Rangers side by the camera well and was handed the 3 bats and took them back to the Twins dug out. Would this be an example of someone from MLB authenticating the bats because I can't think of any other reason for this?

[jppopma]

Re: MLB bat authentication?

It could be authentication, or it could be somebody inspecting the bats to make sure they fall into the new regulations. With all of the problems with broken bats last year, they are now required to have a clear handle as well as certain grain requirements. They may have certain off field officials that inspect broken bats to make sure they are in compliance as well as continuing to research what bats are more likely to crack.

[coxfan]

Re: MLB bat authentication?

It would seem reasonable that an authenticator might sit in the camera well, as he would need to be near the batboys to get items that could be specifically authenticated as " broken bat by Jones-sixth inning" etc. If he waits to get them after the game in the clubhouse, there's no way to be sure of the specific use of the item, so it would thus then be given simply as " game-used on X date".

Authenticators would have to work for both teams if any road items were used and then sold later by the visiting teams. For example, the Braves' dugout lineup cards for road games are certified along with items for the home team ( in the same hologram sequence) and then brought back to Atlanta to sell. That would indicate the authenticators work onsite for both teams.

[coxfan]

Re: MLB bat authentication?

Another thought: If you see items (such as balls) in the Rangers' stores that are given as being from that Twins' game, try to get the hologram number. The items from a given game are always given in the same sequence; for example, the last part of the numbering may start at ...566 and continue through ...582 for all items from that game regardless of the first part of the hologram.( And it often picks up there for the next game, though sometimes they jump to another number sequence.) So if those bats were specifically authenticated as being from certain innings in that game, that would almost certainly prove that the camera well visits were for authenticators. If the bats are only authenticated as " game-used" with no specifics such as inning used, then the camera-well visits were probably not part of the process.

[gingi79]

Re: Does MLB Auctions fix their mistakes?

I see others have had similar issues so I figured I would update this thread.

After looking over the shirt and tags, it is most likely that this was game worn. The price tagging from the Braves that hangs from the shirt lists it as Francoeur $800. Nothing about game worn like others have been.

I contacted MLB Auctions who forwarded my concerns to a wonderful woman at the Braves. If you have a problem, question, concern about Atlanta Braves material, Lisa Wessinger is the person to talk to. She looked into it and explained how to return my jersey for a new one. Better yet she forwarded my the new MLB Hologram. It lists the shirt as game worn against the Nationals on June 27th AND that the autograph is authenticated at a signing on August 3rd!

If you collect Braves stuff and want her info, email me at gingi79@aol.com. You will NOT be disappointed.

I guess alls well that ends well. I'd say I was pleasantly surprised and very satisfied by the outcome. I hope everyone else who has voiced concerns gets the same service I did.

[April 10, 1962]

Re: MLB bat authentication?

The guy sitting in the camera well next to the dugout is the MLB Authenticator. That is why the bats are going his direction. They sit in a similar position at all MLB stadiums.

[nomo121]

Re: MLB bat authentication?

It is the authenticator, as I see them toss balls and so forth over to him. Now that is a sweet gig.

[metsbats]

MLB authentication error

I received a Nick Evan's game used helmet today with a MLB hologram which dated the helmet to the 9/29/2009 mets vs nats game. When I double checked the boxscore Evan's didn't even play on that day.